Argentina Incorporates Bell 412EP Helicopters into its Fleet
The Argentine government incorporated four Bell 412EP helicopters into the Argentine Air Force (FAA, in Spanish) as part of its efforts to upgrade its aerial fleet. The move improves FAA’s search and rescue, humanitarian aid, natural disaster relief, and peacekeeping operations. The new units were formally introduced on February 20th in the military sector of the Jorge Newbery Airfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“The modern aircraft acquired under the U.S. government's Foreign Military Sales Program will allow the Air Force to fulfill the responsibilities assigned by the Argentine government,” Colonel César Grando, chief of FAA’s Department of Institutional Communication, told Diálogo. “They will be used in important tasks such as air assault, troop transport, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation, and air transport.” The aircraft will be based in the 7th Air Brigade of Moreno in Buenos Aires, where FAA houses its helicopters. The four aircraft were assembled at the Quilmes Material Area, an FAA workshop in Buenos Aires, after fully completing technical requirements. The helicopters are in optimal flight condition.
“National aviation will help with other types of tasks, including some that are outside the realm of the Air Force, such as surveillance command and control, reconnaissance and intelligence, domestic security support, assisting Antarctic operations, and participating in the construction of the Subregional Defense System,” Col. Grando said. “The arrival of these helicopters is of fundamental importance for missions to control illegal movement across Argentine borders, peacekeeping work in hostile areas, and training crews.” Argentina submitted a proposal for the aircraft, which the U.S. Department of State approved in 2015. Valued at $80 million, the purchase includes associated equipment, spare parts, pilot training, logistical support, tools, and technical assistance. Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company in Fort Worth, Texas, designed and manufactured the aircraft.
“Since FAA had already incorporated this kind of aircraft, there were technical personnel and pilots who knew this weapon system,” Colonel Fernando Valentich, chief of FAA’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations, told Diálogo. “Even so, as part of the contract, a small number of pilots and technicians were trained.”
“The modern aircraft acquired under the U.S. government's Foreign Military Sales Program will allow the Air Force to fulfill the responsibilities assigned by the Argentine government,” Colonel César Grando, chief of FAA’s Department of Institutional Communication, told Diálogo. “They will be used in important tasks such as air assault, troop transport, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation, and air transport.” The aircraft will be based in the 7th Air Brigade of Moreno in Buenos Aires, where FAA houses its helicopters. The four aircraft were assembled at the Quilmes Material Area, an FAA workshop in Buenos Aires, after fully completing technical requirements. The helicopters are in optimal flight condition.
“National aviation will help with other types of tasks, including some that are outside the realm of the Air Force, such as surveillance command and control, reconnaissance and intelligence, domestic security support, assisting Antarctic operations, and participating in the construction of the Subregional Defense System,” Col. Grando said. “The arrival of these helicopters is of fundamental importance for missions to control illegal movement across Argentine borders, peacekeeping work in hostile areas, and training crews.” Argentina submitted a proposal for the aircraft, which the U.S. Department of State approved in 2015. Valued at $80 million, the purchase includes associated equipment, spare parts, pilot training, logistical support, tools, and technical assistance. Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company in Fort Worth, Texas, designed and manufactured the aircraft.
“Since FAA had already incorporated this kind of aircraft, there were technical personnel and pilots who knew this weapon system,” Colonel Fernando Valentich, chief of FAA’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations, told Diálogo. “Even so, as part of the contract, a small number of pilots and technicians were trained.”
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